Wire tool



F. JOHNSON 2,5539% WIRE TOOL Filed Aug. 14, 1947 May 22, W511 nwuwnkw Frizz Jaiwzso 72 MOI/MW a Patented May 22, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WIRE TOOL Fritz Johnson, Idaho Falls, Idaho Application August 14, 1947, Serial No. 768,599

2 Claims. (Cl. 254-80) This invention relates to pliers.

An object of this invention is to provide a pair of pliers designed particularly for tightly pulling, stretching, gripping and cutting wire ties used in concrete forms or the like.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a pair of pliers, a lever arm fixed to end extending laterally and forwardly from one of the jaws which is adapted to bear against a stationary part with the outer end of the lever forming a fulcrum point so that the lever may be rocked with the pliers and thereby efiect a tightening of the wire or other article gripped between the jaws of the pliers.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a pair of pliers an improved J'aw construction wherein one of jaws is formed as a cutter which is so constructed that the wire or other article gripped between the jaws will not be completely out through until excess pressure is placed on the handles.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a pair of pliers constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, the numerals I and II designate generally a pair of handles which are pivotally connected together, being mounted on a pivot |2 which extends through the bifurcated forward end l3 of the handle l0 and through an obtusely disposed extension l4 formed on the forward end of the handle II.

The bifurcated portions |3 of the handle I0 extend on an obtuse angle to the length of the handle l0 and a combined clamping and cutting jaw |5 is carried by the forward ends of the bifurcations I3.

The jaw I5 includes an insert l6 comprising a combined gripping and cutting member which is formed with a V-shaped inner face I! confronting an insert i8 carried by a jaw I9 which is fixed to the obtuse extension M.

A laterally and forwardly projecting lever arm 20 is formed integral with the extension l4, projecting forwardly and laterally from the jaw I9 and formed at its terminal end with a head 2|.

The head 2| is adapted to engage a fixed support and constitutes a fulcrum by means of which the pliers are adapted to be rocked upwardly so as to form suflicient leverage to tighten a pair of wire strands 22 which are gripped between the inserts Hi and I8 of the jaws l5 and I9 respectively.

The wire 22 may be a tie wire which is used in concrete forms for holding the opposite sides of the forms against spreading. After the wire 22 has been pulled tightly by rocking of the pliers on the head 2|, the wire may be twisted and this wire may then be cut on. by exerting additional pressure on the handles Ill and II, the insert |6 cutting through the wire strand or strands which are gripped between the two jaws.

In the use and operation of these pliers, the Wire 22 is initially'gripped between the jaws l5 and I9 with the jaws positioned closely adjacent the face of the work, as shown in full lines in Figure 1. With the wire or wire strands gripped between the jaws, the handles l0 and I I may then be rocked upwardly to substantially the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, the rocking of the pliers being effected by engagement of the head 2| against a stationary support.

After the wire 22 has been tightened and twisted the wire may be cut by application of additional pressure on the handles l0 and II. Through the provision of the inserts l6 and IS, the gripping faces of the jaws may be formed of hardened steel wires, the remaining portions of the pliers may be formed out of forged steel or the like.

The use of these pliers will permit the rapid mounting of tie wires in concrete forms and the rapid tightening or tensioning of the wires without the use of additional tools.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A pliers comprising a pair of handles, one of said handles being formed with a bifurcated end, the adjacent end of the other of said handles extending through said bifurcated end, a :pivot member extending through said pair of handles, a laterally extending elongated jaw carried by said bifurcated end, a confronting jaw carried by said other handle and engageable with said first mentioned jaw, and a lever arm extending forwardly of said first mentioned jaw and integral with said other handle.

2. A pliers comprising a pair of elongated handles, one of said handles being formed with a 3 bifurcated end, said handles being crossed with REFERENCES CITED the other of said handles extending between the The following references are of record in the bifurcations of said one handle, pivot means exme of this patent:

tending through said bifurcations and said other handle, a pair of laterally extending confronting 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS bars carried by said bifurcations and said other Number Name Date handle and spaced longitudinally from said pivot 496,584 Taft May 2, 1893 means, one of said bars having a rounded face, 833,145 Agnor Oct. 16, 1906 the other of said bars being formed with a wedge 1,739,658 Smith Dec. 17, 1929 shaped face, a lever arm extending forwardly of 10 the bar on said other handle, and a head on said lever arm perpendicular to the length thereof and constituting a fulcrum for said pliers.

FRITZ JOHNSON. 

